Table



0ct.9,1934- G.C.MC KENNEY 1,975,857

' TABLE Filed July'27, 1933 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 9, 1934. c MCKENNEY' c 1,975,857

TABLEL- Filed July 27, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J72 verz am;

Oct. 9, 1934.

G, c. Mc K ENNEY TABLE Filed Jul 1953 s Sheets-Sheet s Patented Oct. 9, 1934 urro sr T E S TABLE Guy C. McKenney. Winooski, Vt., assignor to Porter Screen Company, Wi'nooski, Vt., a cor:-

poraticn of Vermcnt.

Application. July 27, 1933;. Serial No. 682,431" '14 Claims. (01.45-74) My invention. relates tov furniture, and more particularly to a table: and the like; the top of which is adapted to be tilted at an angle from the horizontal.

" 5. The principal object of myinvention istoproi table, and which allows a collapsible table to be compactly collapsed. A further object is to provide the top of a table with an adjustable retailiing rail which may be raised to retaining posi-- tion or lowered out of the way at the desire of the user. A further object is to provide such a retaining rail which may act as a retaining rail for the table top'and also provide. aY'stopfor a drawer. A further object is to provide sucha retaining rail which in one position. may func;-'

tion solely as a stop for the drawer, in a second" position may function both as a stop forfa drawer."

and as a retaining rail for the table top, and in a third position may function solely as a: retaining rail, leaving'the drawerfree to be opened. A further object is to provide anadjustable: drawer stop for a collapsible table.

Other objects relate to the construction and mode of operation and will be'apparentfrom a: consideration of the following description and accompanying drawings, which exemplify" different embodiments chosen for the purposes of-fillus tration.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of. an erected collapsibletable embod'ying'an adjustable retain-- ing rail and drawerstop and a top-tilting'devicei constructed accordancewith the' present inven tion;

Fig. 2' is a fragmentary end elevation of the table illustrated in'Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3' is aside elevation of the table illustratedin Fig. 1', with the top held in tilted position and the retaining rail in intermediate position;

Fig. 4 is a. fragmentary end-elevation of the legs andtilting device of: Fig. 3 looking. inthe direction of the arrows 4-4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional viewof the table shown in Fig. 1 when in collapsed position; Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary end eleva tion, with parts broken away, of the table illustrated. in Fig. 1, looking in the directionof the arrows 6-6 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section on the line 7-7. ofFig. 6; Y Y to Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the erected legs of.

a table embodying a modified constructionof. top? tilting device; 1 I

V Fig. 9is a fragmentaryend elevation showingthe tilting device of Fig. 8 looking in the dime-- tion of the arrows 9-9 in Fig. 8; d

Fig. 10 is a view similar to-Fig. 8'but showing the tilting device in extended position;

Fig. 11' is a fragmentary end elevation showing. the tilting device in extended position looking. in. thedirection of the arrows 11-11 in Fig. 10;.

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the table of Fig. 8 in collapsed position;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View showing the leg, extension member and as; sociated parts illustrated in Fig. 8;

Fig. 14' is a plan view of an extension'member of the tiltingdevice illustrated in Fig. 8;

Fig-15- is a side elevation of the erected legs of a collapsible table embodying another modification of my top-tilting device;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary end elevation looking in the direction of the arrows-16-16 in Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a side elevation of the table illus-- trated in Fig. 15 with the tilting device in ex- 85... tended position; 7

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary end elevation looking. in the direction of the arrows 18-18 in-Fig..17;'

Fig. 19- is an enlarged fragmentary section on line 19-19 of. Fig. 1'7 showing a clip for holding. the extension. member in retracted position;

Fig. 20 is an enlarged section on the line 20-20- of Fig. 17- showing the pivotal connection for the extension member;

Fig. 21 is-a perspective of the extension member 95.. shown in Fig. 15; and v Fig. 2 2 is a side elevation of the table shownin Fig. 15 in collapsed position.

In each of the embodiments herein shown for the purpose of illustration the table comprises 1.00 atop 26. two pairsv of legs 33-33 and 34-34, which may be pivotally secured to each otherintermediate their ends, as at 35, one of the pairs of legs 33-33 being pivotally secured to the table top, as at- 36. The table may beprovi'ded with a shelf 37. and if desired a drawer 32.

Such a table may be erected with the table top in horizontal position by placing. the upper ends of the legs 34-34 behind the abutment member 38. asshown in Fig. 1. The legs may be 111) locked in such position by means of the latch member 41 and the eye member 42. By providing a second abutment member 39 and a second eye member 43, the elevation of the table top may be raised, the table top still remaining in horizontal position. To increase the elevation, the upper ends of the legs 34-34 may be placed behind the abutment member 39, and the latch member 41 may be engaged with the eye member 43.

A table so constructed may be compactly col-' lapsed so that the legs and shelf lie substantially parallel to the top, as shown in Figs. 5, 12 and 22. In collapsing the table the legs 34-34 are swung about the pivot 35 in the direction of the large arrow in Fig. 1. The construction of such a table is described in detail in United States Letters Patent No. 1,961,241, dated June 5, 1934, and to which reference may be had for more specific instructions concerning construction of such a table.

The particular embodiment shown for the purposes of illustration in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, comprises an extension member 44 which is pivotally secured, as at 45-45, to the upper ends of the pair of legs 34-34, this pair being unconnected to the table top. Such a pivotal connection may be obtained by any suitable means such as a crosspiece 46, but there are other means which 30 will be apparent to persons skilled in the art of obtaining such a pivotal connection, and I do not limit my invention to the means disclosed.

, The extension member 44 comprises two or more members47-47 which may be reinforced by the crosspiece 48. It is necessary to provide member about the pivots 45-45 when the table is in erected tilted position.

For this purpose I provide a pair of spaced abutments 38 and 39, and a latch member 49. The front face of the abutment 39 cooperates with the rear face of the abutment 38 to prevent inward revolution of the extension member. The rear face of the abutment 38 cooperates with the latch member 49 to prevent outward revolution of the extension member. The latch member 49 may be placed upon the crosspiece 48 and may be operated to engage the eye member 50, or a latch member may be placed upon the under surface of the table top engaging either the crosspiece 48 or means upon the members 47-47.

By providing other pairs of spaced abutments, such as 40-39, and other eye members, such as 51, the angle or elevation of the table top may be increased at the desire of the user.

Other means for locking the extension member in extended position may be provided, such as the releasable means shown as the pins 52-52 illustrated in Figs. 8 to 14 inclusive. By providing holes 58-58 through the legs 34-34 and corresponding holes 53-53 in the members 47-47 to receive pins such as 52-52, the pins may be inserted in such holes to prevent rotation of the members 47-47 about their pivots 45-45 in either direction as shown in Fig. 4.

By providing additional holes, such as 54-54 in the members 47-47, the members may be releasably locked in a position adjacent the respective legs 84 when the members are retracted or when the table is in collapsed position.

The function of the abutment members 38, 39, 40 etc., may be accomplished by recesses in the under side of the table top, and I do not limit my invention to the specific means which I have disclosed. The crosspiece 48 may be eliminated, since the members 47-47 may function independently of said crosspiece.

By providing releasable locking means, such as pins 52 and corresponding holes (see Fig. 4), the latch member may be eliminated and only one abutment, such as 38, is necessary to prevent outward rotation of the legs 34-34 about the pivots 35-35. Releasable locking means may be used in combination with a latch member, since the latch member may function to prevent rotation of the legs 34-34 about the pivots 35-35, thus eliminating the necessity of any abutments. A latch member may be used alone with neither abutments nor releasable locking means.

The particular embodiment of my tilting device'illustrated in Figs. 8 to 14 inclusive, comprises extension members 55-55 which are pivotally secured to the lower ends of the respective legs of the pair of legs 34-34. I have obtained such a pivotal connection by means of the crosspiece 56, but. there are other means apparent to persons skilled in the art, of obtaining such a pivotal connection. Although I have shown no crosspiece between the outer ends of the extension members 55-55, a crosspiece may be used for reinforcement similar to the crosspiece 48 shown in Fig. 4.

It is necessary to provide releasable means for looking or firmly holding theextension member or members in extended position i. e. to restrain both outward and inward revolution of the members about the pivots 57-57 when the table is in erected tilted position. For this purpose I provide such releasable means for looking as the pins 52-52. By providing holes 58-58 through the legs 34-34, and corresponding holes 53-53 in the members 55-55, the pins 52-52 may be inserted in said holes to prevent rotation of the extension members in either direction.

By providing additional holes in the extension members, such as 59 and 60, the extension members may be locked in a plurality of extended positions, as shown by the dot and the dot-dash positions in Fig. 10, thereby permitting variation of the angle from horizontal at which the table top may be tilted.

By providing the additional holes 54-54 in the extension members, the members may be releasably locked in a position adjacent the respective legs 34-34 when the extension members are not in use, or when the table is collapsed, as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 12.

The pins 52-52 may be attached to the legs 34-34 by means of chains 62-62 or other devices, to prevent loss of the pins.

The particular embodiment of my tilting device shown for the purpose of illustration in Figs. 15 to 22 inclusive, comprises an extension member 63 which may be made of strong wire. The arms 64-64 of the extension member must be sufiiciently resilient to resume a substantially parallel position after they have been moved inwardly towards each other a short distance.

The arms 64-64 are provided with lateral projections 67-67 which freely in the holes 65-65 in the legs. The resiliency of the material of the arms of the extension member allows the arms 64-64 to be moved inwardly, and thus allows the projections 67-67 to be Withdrawn from the holes 65-65.

The holes 65-65 cooperate with the projections 67-67 to provide pivots about which the exten- .1 not in use.

lining 68 may be providedfor the'holes'toresist the wearing action of the projections in the holes and to insure a permanent fit.

A plurality of pairs of holes, such as ,85 and 66- 66, may be provided. to receive saidproje'ctions allowing the extension member to be selectively positioned beyond the end of the legs 34-34 and thus allowing the table top to be tilted in a corresponding plurality of angles from horizontal.

The arms 646 i of the extension member-may be provided with a pair ofdepressions, such as Gil-+69, which are adapted to snugly; engage the crosspiece 58 when the extension member. is in extended position. Thecrosspiece 56 cooperates with the pair of depressions to restrain the extension member from outward revolution about the pivots 65--65 when the table is in erected tilted position. The depressions such as 69-69 serve to distribute the pressure exerted by the crosspiece upon the outsidesurface of the arms 6445i, and to minimize the tendency of such pressure to bend the arms.

A plurality of pairs of depressions may be formed to' correspond with the additional pairs of holes, such as 66-66.

One or both of the legs 34 34 may be provided, with a clip adapted to releasably hold the extension'member in retracted position when The extension member may be provided with bends, such as 71-+7l, which tend to prevent sliding of the table upon the surface of the floor, and which have other functions apparent to persons; skilled in the art.

' In operation the extension member is released from the clip andrevolved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. ,15to; extended position. as shown in Figs. 17 and 18. In extended position the crosspiece 55 prevents outward rotation of 1 the extension member, andpressure upon. the

top of the table prevents inward rotation.

Means other than the crosspiece-56 may be used to engage the arms of the extension member,.and thereby prevent outward rotation. The

bends, such as 69 -69 and 717l may be eliminated entirely or altered without departing from my invention.

It is apparent that when the tilting operation.

is secured by raising the lower ends of one pair of legs. it may be accomplished by placing .an

extension member or members upon either pair of legs, and althoughl have illustrated extension members only upon he inner pair oflegs. 34 34,. my extension members may be utilized instead upon the other pair of legs 3333-if desired. On

the other hand, when the tilting operation issecured by extending the upper ends of one pair of legs, it must be accomplished by extending the pair of legs whichis not already secured-to the table top.

In a collapsible table similar to the one illustrated in the drawings I recommend placing; the

extension member or members upon the inner.

pair of legs corresponding to the legs-3434.- since by so positioning the extension member the table may be more completely collapsed.

' In a table which is adapted to be used with its top either in a horizontal position or in a tilted position, it is desirable to have a retaining'rail for the table top whichmay be used, desired, with the top in tilted position or otherwise. and which may be lowered to a position in which its upper edge is flush with or below the upper plane of the table top. a

The embodiment of my adjustable retaining rail shownior the purposes of illustration in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive and Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive, comprisesa longitudinal member 25' which may be secured to; the table top. 26 with screws. 272 7, which, pass through the vertical slots 28-28 in the member 25.

. The outer face of the member 25. may be pro-.- tected from the heads of the screws 27-27 by the use of washers 29-29.

- The vertical slots 28.28 may have connecting therewith one or more pairs of horizontal chan:- nels, such as,3030 and 3l31.

The member 25 may be constructed of a width. greaterthan the thickness of the table top 26,

so that when the upper edge of the member 25 is flush with or below the upper surface of the table top, the lower edge of the member will extend below the top of the drawer 32 and act. as, a retaining stop for said drawer.

By providing the horizontal channels 30-30',

when the member 25 is moved upward to full raised position, as shown in the dash. position in Fig. 6, by sliding the member 25 to the right, the sections of the screws 2727 which are coincident with the slots 2828 will rest, in the horizontal channels 3030, and the member 25 will be releasably locked against vertical displacement in'full raisedposition, where it provides a retaining rail for the table top and. allows the drawer to be Withdrawn.

A second pair of horizontal channels. 31-31. may be provided so that when the member 25 is moved upward to an intermediate position, as shown by the dot double dash position in Fig. 6, by sliding the member 25 to the left, thesections of the screws which are coincident with the vertical slots will restin the horizontal, channels 31-31 and the member 25 will be locked against vertical displacement in intermedate. position, where it providesboth a retaining rail for the table top and a retaining stop for the drawer.

When the table top is tilted there is atendency for the drawer to slide open, and said interme-v diate position of the member 25 allows it to function to hold the drawer shut and to form a re- I- taining rail for the table top in the same position.

,One of the important functions of the member 25 in a collapsible table is holding the drawer against withdrawal by gravity, because when the table is in collapsed position the drawer will frequently be in a vertical position It should be understood that the member 25 will serve all of the functions above outlined without providing either or both of the channels 30--30 and 31-31,, and I do not limit my invention to the provision ofsuch channels. The channels 30-30 and 3131 may both be'placed on the same side of the vertical slots 28-28 or may be staggered on either side as I have shown them in the drawings. channels may be provided adjacent the top ofthe vertical slots 2828 to lock the member 25 in lowered position if desired.

An additional pair of A collapsible table or like device constructed in V when not in use as a retaining rail, or which may s function as both a retaiing rail and a drawer stop at the same time.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only, and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

I. In a table or like device comprising a top, two pairs of legs pivotally secured to each other intermediate their ends, a pivotal connection between one pair of legs and the table top, means for holding the table top in tilted position comprising extension members pivoted to the upper ends of the respective legs of the other pair of legs,

a crosspiece between said extension members and latch means on said crosspiece for forming a detachable connection between the crosspiece and the table top when the table is in erected tilted position, said extension members being adapted to be revolved to retracted position when not in use, and means for restraining said pairs of legs from separating beyond a predetermined position when the table is in erected position, the latter means comprising the table top, its pivotal connection with one pair of legs, and said latch means.

2. In a table or like device comprising a top, two pairs of legs pivotally secured to each other intermediate their ends, a pivotal connection be tween one pair of legs and the table top, means for holding the table top in tilted position comprising extension members pivoted to the upper ends of the respective legs of the other pair of legs, and releasable means for locking the extension members in extended position, said extension members being adapted to be revolved to retracted position when not in use, and means for restraining said pairs of legs from separating beyond a predetermined position when the table is in erected position, the latter means consisting of the table top, its pivotal connection with one pair of legs, and said releasable means.

3. A table or like device comprising a top, two pairs of legs pivotally secured to each other intermediate their ends, a pivotal connection between one pair of legs and the table top, means for holding the table top in tilted position comprising extension members pivoted to the upper ends of the respective legs of the other pair of legs, and spaced abutments disposed on the under side of said table top, said abutments being constructed and arranged to engage the ends of said extension members in extended position, and means for restraining said pairs of legs from separating beyond a predetermined position when the table is in erected position, the latter means consisting of the table top, its pivotal connection with one pair of legs, and said spaced abutments in engagement with the ends of said extension members in extended position.

i. A table or like device comprising a top, two pairs of legs pivotally secured to each other intermediate their ends, a pivotal connection be tween one pair of legs and the table top, means for holding the table top in tilted position comprising extension members pivoted to the upper ends of the respective legs of the other pair of legs, and spaced abutments disposed on the under side of said table top, said abutments being constructed and arranged to engage the ends of said extension members in extended position, and

' a latch member associated with said top and said extension members constructed and arranged to bers against outward revolution, and means for restraining said pairs of legs from separating beyond a predetermined position when the table is in erected position, the latter means comprising the table top, its pivotal connection with one pair of legs, said spaced abutments in engagement with the upper ends of said extension members and said latch member.

5. A table or like device comprising a top having an abutment on its under surface, two pairs of legs pivotally secured to each other intermediate their ends, one of said pairs being pivotally connected to said table top, the other pair having an extension member pivoted to their upper ends, said extension member being constructed and arranged to engage said abutment when in extended position, releasable means for locking said extension member in extended position, and means for restraining said pairs of legs from separating beyond a predetermined position when the table is in erected position, the latter means consisting of the table top, its pivotal connection with one pair of legs, and said abutment in engagement with said extension member.

6. In a table or like device comprising a top, two pairs of legs, means for holding the table top in tilted position comprising extension members pivoted to the lower ends of the respective legs of one pair of legs, and releasable means for locking the extension members in extended position, said extension members being adapted to be revolved to retracted position, when not in use.

7. In a table or like device comprising a top, two pairs of legs, means for holding the table top in tilted position comprising an extension member pivoted to the lower ends of the respective legs or" one pair of legs, and releasable means for locking the extension member in a plurality of diiierent extended positions thereby permitting variation of the angle at which the top may be tilted, said extension member being adapted to be revolved to retracted position when not in use.

8. In a table or like device comprising a top, two pairs of legs, means for holding the table top in tilted position comprising extension members pivoted to the lower ends of the respective legs of one pair of legs, and releasable means for locking the extension members in extended position and for locking said members in contracted position.

9. In a table or like device comprising a top, two pairs of legs, means for holding the table top in tilted position comprising an extension member pivoted to the respective legs of one pair of legs, and means on said one pair of legs to engage the extension member and prevent outward revolution thereof in extended position. 1

10. In a table or like device comprising a top, two pairs of legs, means for holding the table top in tilted position comprising an extension member removably pivoted to the respective legs of one pair of legs, and means on said one pair of legs to engage the extension member and prevent outward revolution thereof in extended position.

11. In a table or like device comprising a top, two pairs of legs, means for holding the table top in tilted position comprising an extension member detachably pivoted to the respective legs of one pair of legs, means upon said pair of legs for providing a plurality of pivot points for said extension member, and means upon said pair of legs to engage the extension member and prevent outward revolution thereof in extended position.

12. A device of the class described comprising pairs of legs, the legs of each pair being similarly disposed in substantially parallel relation, means for connecting the legs of one pair to the legs of another pair for pivotal movement relatively toward and from each other about an axis disposed transversely of the length of said legs and intermediate the ends thereof, a table top pivotally connected with the end portions of one pair of said legs on one side of said pivotal axis, said table top being mounted to pivot about an axis disposed transversely of the said end, portions of said pair of legs, an extension member carried by the end portions of one pair of said legs for increasing the effective length thereof so that said top may be thereby supported in an'inclined position, means associated with the extension member and said end portions to prevent relative movement therebetween, and means for restraining said pairs of legs from separating beyond a predetermined position, the latter means comprising the table top, its pivotal connection with one pair of legs and means carried by said top and engageable with the adjacent end portions of said other pair of legs.

13. In a table or like device comprising a top, two pairs of legs pivotally secured to each other intermediate their ends, a pivotal connection between the upper ends of one of the pairs of legs and the table top, means for holding the table top in tilted position comprising an extension member having one end pivotally secured to the respective legs of one pair of legs, the other end being free to revolve about said pivot to extended position, means for holding the extension member in extended position, and means for restraining said pairs of legs from separating beyond a predetermined position When the table is erected and the extension member is in extended position, the latter means consisting of abutment means on the under surface or" the table top operative to restrain movement of one pair of said legs relative to the other pair.

14. In a table or like device comprising a top, two pairs of legs pivotally secured to each other intermediate their ends, a pivotal connection between the upper ends of one of the pairs of legs and the table top, means for holding the table top in tilted position comprising an extension member having one end pivotally secured to the respective legs of one pair of legs, the other end being free to revolve about said pivot, and means for holding the extension member in extended position, and means for restraining said pairs of legs from separating beyond a predetermined position, the latter means comprising the table top, its said pivotal connection with one pair of legs, and means carried by said top and engageable with said extension member in extended position.

GUY C. MCKENNEY. 

